A wide array of exemptions could entitle people to free prescriptions, including their age, certain medical conditions or treatments, and income levels.
Some medications are also provided free of charge, such as contraception.
The NHSBSA website features an online checker to help people determine whether they qualify for free prescriptions under these criteria.
For those who don’t, Prepayment Certificates (PPC) could unlock savings of hundreds of pounds on medication annually.
The NHS Prepayment Certificate (PPC) enables people to purchase several months’ worth of medication upfront at a considerably reduced rate. At present, a single NHS prescription costs £9.90 per item in England.
For someone requiring two prescription items monthly, this amounts to £237.60 annually, with costs rising for each additional medication needed. However, a 12-month PPC costs £114.50, saving this individual £123 per year.
The savings grow with each prescription item. For instance, people with four monthly prescription items could save over £360 annually.
There are different types of PPCs with different costs:
- Three month PPC for £32.05
- 12 month PPC for £114.50
- HRT PPC for £19.80
HRT PPC for £19.80 PPCs cover all NHS prescriptions, including NHS dental prescriptions, regardless of the number of items required. However, certain health items such as wigs or fabric supports fall outside its scope.
Those who require just one prescription per month will pay £29.70 over three months or £118.80 for the full year, meaning a PPC may not always represent a saving and could, in certain circumstances, prove more costly.
The HRT PPC covers an unlimited number of some HRT medications for a 12-month period, including instances where HRT has been prescribed for reasons other than menopause symptoms.
NHS patients are able to apply for a PPC online, and those who have already paid for prescriptions while awaiting their PPC may be eligible to claim a refund.
Applications can also be made via the PPC order line on 0300 330 1341, which will be valid from the date of the call, and some pharmacies may also be able to sell one directly.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
